Amanda Redman quit 'New Tricks' because she couldn't handle the filming schedule, which meant she had no time left to experiment with other roles

The 55-year-old actress - who announced she was bowing out of the BBC comedy drama after ten years on the show - admits her decision to leave her role as Superintendent Sandra Pullman came after she found the intense filming was taking up too much of her time.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she said: "I have loved being in 'New Tricks' but now we are filming ten episodes and that, for me, is too long.

"You can't fit in other work as there just isn't enough time.

"It's good to challenge yourself because otherwise you stagnate and I want to do so much more."

Although the blonde beauty is still yet to sign up to another big role, she is adamant she will not be playing a police detective in the near future because she wants to try her hand at something different.

She explained: "I don't want to be sent scripts that are so similar to Sandra Pullman.

"I have had loads but that is just annoying. I obviously don't want to do that.

"I have been in something that was hugely successful and now I want to do something totally different."

Tamzin Outhwaite - who has bagged main parts in 'EastEnders', 'Hotel Babylon' and 'The Fixer' - is set to replace Amanda as DCI Sarah Millard and will be seen on screen in the autumn.